Dakota Radio Group brings more of the same to State Capitol's radio

This isn't really a political post except for the fact that it pertains to radio in the state capitol. For years Pierre South Dakota has dwelt in the steamy, smelly armpit of the state when it comes to format choices on your radio dial. We only get about five choices on the FM dial (including NPR) and the AM stations vary depending on the weather and what time of day it is (we have two stations that are based in this town.

For some reason two of these stations (95.3 KLXS and Dakota Radio Group's River 92.7) have seemed to always have a similar format. In the 90's they were both classic rock, in the aughts (2000's) they were both equally horrible as top forty alternative pop crap stations. Finally 95.3 chose a format that, in my opinion, made them the more listenable when they became BOB-FM. A format of not having a format. Playing music the way on might program an ipod play list (ex. country song, 70' rock song, rap song, 80's hair band song, etc, etc, etc.) All different, and if you don't like the song that is playing the next on will be nothing like it.

Lately, Dakota Radio group had an opportunity to buy a new frequency when 100.1 became available in the Pierre area. They bought it and set up a new transmitter, and had an opportunity to bring something new and exciting to Pierre. You'll never guess what the cutting edge minds at Dakota Radio Group came up with as a format. The exact same thing as BOB-FM, or as one of there ad salespeople told me this weekend "It's just like BOB-FM, but only better."

I understand that radio is a business, and that Dakota Radio Group did this because they figure they can sell some advertising, and maybe steal a few customers away from the competition. But I say they screwed up here. We have very little choice in radio as it is, why bring in more of the same. Is there a rule that you can't be innovative in the radio business in Pierre.

Anyway, I'll close this rant by sending a great big BOO to Dakota Radio Group for their lack of creativity and making a decision that in no way enriched our community in any way. Stop piling on the crap and be original!